The American Dream Crushed

[Nova78]

State of the American Dream Is Uncertain

Ah, the enduring American Dream. The idea that anyone who works hard enough can climb the ladder and achieve success: a lovely home in the suburbs, luxury cars in the garage, the kids off to a good college and the retirement in a sunny locale.


The reality is more complicated.

Although the economy is slowly improving, experts say the deep recession and weak recovery may have exacerbated decades-long trends that were already making it tough for Americans to move up the ladder and, perhaps, achieve the American Dream.

The incredibly weak job market of the past five years, in particular, may mean that more people feel that they are doing everything right—working hard, going to college, following the rules—and still aren't getting ahead.

America , land of plenty is now a empty cup............

 

[Friends]

It is not unusual for a country to decline economically. Over the centuries it has happened to many countries, and for various reasons.

One reason is population growth. For at least two centuries in the West the negative effects of population growth have been offset by technological advances. Nevertheless, we should not assume that it will always happen this way, or that it always has. Population growth in the Western Roman Empire lead to economic decline in the third and fourth centuries and probably contributed to the fall of the Empire.

In the New World population growth in the Mayan civilization lead to the fall of that civilization before the coming of Columbus.

About 1200 B.C. population growth lead to the fall of the Mycenae and Hittite empires, and to the decline in the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Egyptian empires.

Currently the most obvious technological advance is computer technology. Nevertheless, computer technology reduces the economic value of jobs most people are able to learn. Computer technology makes automation possible. It also makes it possible for executives in the United States to monitor factory production in low wage countries after closing factories in the United States.

During the nineteenth century there was a significant increase in agricultural production. Those who lost farm jobs could move to cities and get factory jobs. Currently those who lose factory jobs might be able to get service industry jobs. While these jobs require more academic and social skills than production work they usually pay less.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Obama and the Dems are trying to destroy the economy

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

The incredibly weak job market of the past five years, in particular, may mean that more people feel that they are doing everything right—working hard, going to college, following the rules—and still aren't getting ahead.

America , land of plenty is now a empty cup............

do you think idiotic liberal policies like Obamacare help wherein an employer has a huge incentive to never employ more than 50 people and to employ them less than 30 hours?

Do you think the most liberal corporate tax in the world that drives our corporations off shore helps?

Do you think that liberal unions that drove 30 million jobs to more competitive labor markets offshore helps?

Do you think the liberal open door to illegals so they can take our jobs and drive down our wages helps??

The list goes on and on.

 

[Friends]

do you think idiotic liberal policies like Obamacare help wherein an employer has a huge incentive to never employ more than 50 people and to employ them less than 30 hours?

The President's health care plan was an unfortunate effort to compromise with the Republicans that they rejected. We should have adopted the Canadian single payer health plan.

---------

Harris Interactive

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – August 12, 2009 – As members of Congress return to their states and districts to debate the merits of the Democrats’ proposals for health care reform, critics of the proposals may repeat the phrase used by some Republicans, newspaper editorials and bloggers that ‘the American health care system is the envy of the world.”

If so, they should read the results of a recent Harris/Decima poll in Canada that found a 10-to-1 majority of Canadians believed their system was “superior” to the U.S. system. They might also note that a 70% majority of Canadians thought their system was “performing well”; and that a majority favored an expansion of public sector health care (i.e., “government-run” health care in the current debate) over private sector health care.
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/va...-Poll-Research-Canadian-HC-system-2009-08.pdf

 

[Friends]

Do you think the most liberal corporate tax in the world that drives our corporations off shore helps?

The overall tax rate is lower in the United States than in any affluent democracy but Japan and South Korea. It is much lower than in countries that have responded better to the Great Recession.

Tax Tea Party Time? - Forbes

 

[Friends]

Do you think that liberal unions that drove 30 million jobs to more competitive labor markets offshore helps?

The Scandinavian countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany have stronger labor unions than the United States. They have also responded better to the Great Recession.

Trade union membership statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster

 

[Friends]

Do you think the liberal open door to illegals so they can take our jobs and drive down our wages helps??

Republicans are complicit on opening the doors to illegal immigration. They like to talk about the imaginary "social conservatism" and "family values" of Hispanic immigrants. In truth they want to help their clients in the business community by lowering wages.

 

[editec]

The whole damned world is changing, not just the USA.

As the world has become increasingly internationalized, national government increasingly compete for international businesses.

Everything most of you know or think you know about what is driving markets, and the fate of the USA is based on a world that no longer exists.

Internatiopnal businesses are far more powerful than ANY nation, now and that trend is only going to become more obvious over time.

The social contract that people make with nations is meaningless in a world where nations play second fiddle to corporations.

 

[Friends]

Obama and the Dems are trying to destroy the economy

No, the Republicans are. Republicans and Democrats know that the president is blamed for a bad economy.

When Rush Limbaugh said of Obama, "I hope he fails," Limbaugh meant that he hoped the economy failed.

Republicans like to gloat about persistent high employment. Nevertheless, they oppose any effort to help the unemployed.

In this video Herman Cain exposed the Republican attitude about the unemployed.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHMEC8Xk9cg]Herman Cain: "If You Don't Have A Job And You're Not Rich, Blame Yourself" - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Friends]

The whole damned world is changing, not just the USA.

As the world has become increasingly internationalized, national government increasingly compete for international businesses.

Everything most of you know or think you know about what is driving markets, and the fate of the USA is based on a world that no longer exists.

Internatiopnal businesses are far more powerful than ANY nation, now and that trend is only going to become more obvious over time.

The social contract that people make with nations is meaningless in a world where nations play second fiddle to corporations.

This is why national sovereignty is becoming obsolete and why we need international organizations to regulate corporation.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

The whole damned world is changing, not just the USA.

As the world has become increasingly internationalized, national government increasingly compete for international businesses.

Everything most of you know or think you know about what is driving markets, and the fate of the USA is based on a world that no longer exists.

Internatiopnal businesses are far more powerful than ANY nation, now and that trend is only going to become more obvious over time.

The social contract that people make with nations is meaningless in a world where nations play second fiddle to corporations.

This is why national sovereignty is becoming obsolete and why we need international organizations to regulate corporation.

Whats wrong with letting capitalism regulate corporations?? Under capitalism a corporation must have the best price and quality in the world to survive. In sum, it must raise our standard of living faster than any other corporation or go bankrupt. It takes genius to make that kind of contribution to life on this planet.

 

[Nova78]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=YKjPI6no5ng]Obama: If You've Got A Business, You Didn't Build That - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=T_AAMa_X2dM]53 seconds that should end a presidency - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=P36x8rTb3jI]Obama Is Going To Pay For My Gas And Mortgage!!! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[SteadyMercury]

America , land of plenty is now a empty cup............

You were doing fine until you went of the rails with this overly dramatic conclusion.

 

[Agit8r]

it was all just a dream... just a dream...

 

[The Rabbi]

Do you think that liberal unions that drove 30 million jobs to more competitive labor markets offshore helps?

The Scandinavian countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany have stronger labor unions than the United States. They have also responded better to the Great Recession.

Trade union membership statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster

They also drink more beer.

I love how people seize on one measure, over a short time, to "explain" differences. The truth is the opposite.